Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Alan RUTHERFORD (1921-1942)

Thomas Alan Rutherford RAAF (406626) who was born on 3rd August 1922 in Brampton, England, and like his older brother Bernard, had also enlisted in Perth. On 14th August 1942 flying Blenheim BA192 with 54 OTU which crashed near Charterhall.  Tom had just turned 20 years old   and is buried in Duns Cemetery, Berwickshire.

His older brother Bernard had been killed in very simlar circumstances at 15 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit, at Leconfield in Yorkshire, when his iarcraft was hit by another while on a solo flight.  Their father Stamford Rutherford RAAF (296635) also served in the UK during WW2.

http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york42/l9647.html (www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk)

RUTHERFORD Thomas Alan

Thomas was the son of Stamford Roy RUTHERFORD & Laura May CALDER and was born on the 3rd of August 1922 in Brampton, England.

He was the fourth child born into the family of 5 children.

His parents were married in September 1918 in Langport, Somerset, England.

His mother was the daughter of William Cattle CALDER & Clara Maria VICK and was baptised on the 15th of July 1883 in Langport, Somerset.

His father was the son of Thomas Bell RUTHERFORD & Elizabeth Lilias Townley LATIMER and was baptised on the 16th of May 1888 in Brampton, Cumberland.

Bernard’s father had previously served in the South Staffordshire Regiment in WW1 and was promoted to Captain and his mother had served with the British Red Cross Society & Order of St John in Egypt for 14 months.

They lived at Shaw Brow, Kaworth, Cumberland.

On the 1st of December 1923 the family departed Liverpool on board the “Medic” for Albany, Western Australia, arriving on the 10th of January 1924.

By 1931 the family at 5 Victoria Street, South Perth and his father was a clerk.

Thomas was educated at Perth Boys School from 1936 – 1938 and then Perth Modern School, Subiaco from 1939 – 1940. He passed all his subjects, but failed in French.

Along with his education he enjoyed playing hockey, football, tennis, cricket and lifesaving.

By 1940 Thomas had moved out of home and was living at 17 Kanimbla Road, Nedlands with his brother Bernard.

On the 3rd of September 1940 his parents gained a divorce and his mother lived at 43 Leura Street, Nedlands. His father moved to 1298 Hay Street, West Perth.

His brother Bernard enlisted into the RAAF on the 6th of January 1941 in Perth and was allotted the service number 406540.

At the age of 18, Thomas enlisted into the RAAF on the 3rd of February 1941 in Perth and was allotted the service number 406626. He listed his father as his next of kin.

He was unemployed at the time he enlisted.

He was appointed to No. 5 Pearce Initial Training School, 11 Course.

This was actually the same course as his brother.

On the 3rd of April he was posted to No. 9 EFTS (Elementary Flying School), Cunderdin and on the 2nd of June was posted to No. 4 SFTS (ServiceFlyingTraining School) in Geraldton, to complete Course 2.

Thomas was awarded his Flying Badge on the 24th of July 1941, the same day as his brother received his.

On the 29th of September he was posted to No. 5 Embarkation Depot in Perth and on the 10th of November 1941 he was transferred to No. 2 Embarkation Depot in Bradfield Park, NSW awaiting embarkation orders.

Thomas embarked for the UK from Newcastle, NSW on the 17th of November 1941, arriving in the UK on the 17th of February 1942 where he was transferred to No. 3 Personal Receiving Centre in Bournemouth.

On the 9th of March 1942 he was posted to 14 AFU (Advanced Flying Unit) RAF Ossington, Nottinghamshire to be trained in Airspeed Oxfords.

This was the first time the brothers had been separated as Bernard was posted to No. 15 Advanced (Pilot) Flying Training Unit in Oxford where he was trained in Airspeed Oxfords.

Whilst here, Thomas was to get the sad news that his brother Bernard was killed while flying solo in an accident at Burton Fleming, East Yorkshire on the 19th of May 42 in Airspeed Oxford aircraft L9647.

He was flying in tail numbering formation with Oxford R6358 when a collision occurred. The wing of the other aircraft struck the tail of his aircraft, which caused this aircraft to dive into ground at 10.30hrs near Pear Tree Farm, Burton Fleming. The other aircraft managed to land safely. Bernard was buried in the Leconfield (St Catherine) Churchyard, he was 23 years old.

On the 23rd of June 1942 Thomas was posted to No. 60 OTU (Operational Training Unit) at RAF Leconfield to train as night fighter crew using the Bristol Blenheim’s, which were a light bomber and the Boulton Paul Defiant’s aircrafts.

On the 2nd of August 1942 Thomas was posted to No. 54 OTU (Operational Training Unit) in Berwickshire (Scottish Borders).

He turned 20 years old the following day.

Sadly, just 11 days later, Thomas was killed whilst flying solo during night flying practice.

On the 14th of August 1942 flying Blenheim BA192 at 0130 hours, Thomas struck a tree near the aerodrome causing it to crash to the ground 2 miles south of RAF Charterhall near Duns in Berwickshire.

Thomas was buried at 12 noon on the 16th of August 1942 in Duns Cemetery, Berwickshire; Section T, Grave 3.

Photo Reference; 1941 Western Australia

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/27876224/person/5082973352/facts